Tempe ranked No. 3 in fun, affordability

By Sandra Haros | August 29, 2012 at 6:26 amUPDATED: August 29, 2012 at 6:26 am

Tempe was rated the third most fun and affordable city in the nation by a Better Homes & Gardens real estate report, which was published in Bloomberg Businessweek.

Tempe’s 85281 zip code, which includes Arizona State University and downtown, was selected for its concentration of restaurants, entertainment venues and nightlife, as well as affordable homes.

“Tempe’s residents, visitors and businesses have long known this city is a vibrant community with something for everyone,” Mayor Mark Mitchell said.

“It’s great to have this kind of nationwide recognition of the things that make Tempe so unique: our diverse residents, variety of businesses, unique entertainment and recreation opportunities. We look forward to continuing to make Tempe the best place to live, work, play and receive an education.”

The survey evaluated more than 6,100 zip codes — in which the median home price is within 20 percent of the state’s median home price — and then selected the 25 with the most restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.